Locked up for 20 months for illegally carrying and firing a gun at a Manhattan nightclub, Plaxico Burress is ready to walk out of prison and face another grim reality, a lockout that could jeopardize the resumption of his football career.

Reporters and cameras will be barred from a key evidence hearing in the case against four men accused of fatally shooting former Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor during a botched 2007 robbery at his home, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Those measured steps Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu takes on his sore left Achilles reveals a mix of grinning and grimacing, with the former outweighing the latter because he's on the doorstep of another championship in spite of the aches.

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will sit out this week's game at Carolina because of a concussion. Bears spokesman Scott Hagel said Thursday that Cutler was examined by team and independent doctors after practicing on a limited basis the previous day.

A receiver for the Denver Broncos apparently takes his own life.The coach of Michigan State savors a thrilling victory, and then goes to the hospital with a heart attack.This season, the first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds might be MVP of the National League. Last season, he was battling depression.

In our final look back at the 2000s, we honor some of the best players of the decade with our own 53-man roster. Some selections are slam-dunks; others will stir debate. But we tried to build a team not simply comprised of all-pros and Pro Bowlers, but complementary parts that could theoretically work together to give our squad scheme versatility while providing maximum talent for our precious roster spots.